Top-Me just swinging round the
roof into the steep crack
Below- Damien on the second pitch
of Stirling Bomber
Today the wind had died off a lot and Damian and I headed back into Coire Sneachda to a very white Fiacall Buttress. We did two amazing routes, the first was Watch Out VI/8 which I lead. The route follows the start of the seam to the big roof, then you travers under this to the right arete. After chilling out on the arete for a bit you swing into a very steep and pumpy overhanging crack which is too wide for axe picks but you need to get baggy torques to ascend it, which was tricky to say the least when there is very little for your feet. After a battle up the crack you make teatery moves to gain the left slab and do some easier but still hard moves to gain the very inviting platform at the top of the Seam.
We then walked back to our bags and headed over to The Stirling Bomber. I ran up the easier first pitch to a good stance below the intimidating chimney. Damian then put in a awesome effort to climb the awkward thrutchy chimney which was tricky due to the amount of snow on the right wall hiding all the foot holds. But regardless he made it to the top with not too much bother and after I had seconded we headed back to the car and down to Aviemore for a well deserved coffee. It was a good couple of days and I just hope the conditions don’t get totally striped with the warmer weather that is forecast.
